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Beatification is out of hand when camels get Botox

Submitted by Aurora1 on Wed, 02/07/2018 - 3:00am

It looks like this beautification business is getting out of hand by even extending its extremes worldwide. Let’s be clear -- I’m not referring to landscaping; new building construction replacing old dilapidated eyesores; or sculptures and other forms of art. I am referring to plastic surgeons’ favorite remedy – the use of Botox for cosmetic enhancements.
According to a news report a dozen camels were banned from a beauty contest during the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival in Saudi Arabia because they were given Botox injections to “enhance their natural beauty.” A veterinarian had been caught performing cosmetic surgery on the camels by injecting Botox to make their ears smaller. Other camel beautifying vets had been caught in earlier instances using Botox for the lips and nose to make the camel head more inflated.
A question came to my mind, “Could the popular enhancing Botox characteristics used in the United States by plastic surgeons on humans also have been injected to enhance the camels’ humps?”
But, we were told blood testing, microchipping and other measures now have eliminated almost all cheating.
Thus, my question about camels’ humps was answered. Owners are additionally required to swear on the Koran that their animals’ humps along with other features can reflect only their “God-given beauty.”
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We’ve been told people who mind their own business usually succeed – they have so little competition.
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Now we have a public petition being circulated to ask the Nebraska Legislature to expand food stamps qualifications to include pet foods. It is my understanding the petition sponsor has not come up with a concrete answer as to how those qualifications for pet food can be regulated. Since animals come in different sizes food consumption is going to vary – thus dollar guidelines will have to be established. Are dogs and cats the only pets to be included, or will there also be birds, turtles, llamas, fish, etc. also qualify?
The regulation of our entire welfare system is a tough job when we see the cracks that surface in trying to enforce child support payments, the food stamp system and a host of other government subsidized programs.
As much as I like dogs, I think a pet food doesn’t need to be added to the list.
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A chrysanthemum by any other name would be easier to spell.
RL Furse is publisher emeritus of the News-Register